By Sue-Ann Chia & Rachel Chang

SINGAPORE should encourage more of its best and brightest to get their first degree from a local university, said former minister and Temasek Holdings chairman S. Dhanabalan, 72, yesterday.

'We may have swung a little bit the other way where the best of our top students go overseas,' he told reporters before receiving an award from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

'I personally don't think it's good for Singapore.'

One way to reverse this situation, he suggested, is to change how scholarships are given out to ensure a fair distribution.

Currently, top students aim to receive an overseas scholarship as it is seen as more prestigious than a scholarship to a local university.

But, said Mr Dhanabalan: 'We need people at the top, in all sectors of society, who have experience of the world as well as a good understanding of Singapore.

'The university years are formative years. It's good to have a good representation of our society's leaders who have been educated in Singapore universities.'

He graduated in 1960 from the University of Malaya (Singapore campus) that later became NUS.

Last night, he and Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, 70, received the university's Eminent Alumni Award, the top accolade for graduates with outstanding achievements. It was introduced in 2005 and is given every two years.

Previous recipients include President SR Nathan, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and former deputy prime minister Tony Tan.

Professor Jayakumar also made a pitch for Singaporeans to study in local universities.

'In my time, the university did not have the kind of reputation as now,' he said, noting that NUS has gained an international reputation.

'Students have a choice of studying here, and their degree will be recognised all over the world.'

While he does not see a need to prescribe where people should study, he does have one piece of advice for those wishing to read law.

'Based on my personal experience, unless there are special reasons to study abroad first, it might be better to do their first degree here and do postgraduate studies abroad,' said Singapore's former law minister who graduated with top honours in law in 1963.

Both men were among 20 NUS alumni who received awards in three categories.

The oldest was Dr Oon Chiew Seng, 93, who received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award along with seven others.

She graduated from King Edward VII College of Medicine here in 1948, and became the first gynaecologist to go into private practice in 1959.

'I would have remained a nurse if there was no NUS,' said Dr Oon, who founded Apex Harmony Lodge, a nursing home for dementia patients, after retiring from medical practice.

Among the younger recipients was TV celebrity Jeanette Aw, 30, who was one of the 10 given the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

She graduated in 2003 with a major in theatre studies and a minor in psychology.

Her time at NUS was the 'happiest moments because I was involved in the things I really love such as dance, theatre and performing', she told The Straits Times.

She believes the experiences students seek abroad can be found as well in local universities.

For example, with the number of overseas students now enrolled at NUS, there is the same kind of cultural exchange and exposure.

'It's nice to be able to study at NUS as you're home, close to your family and friends,' she added.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.